University, city and county officials are collaborating to provide midtown Gainesville with a new center for growing businesses.
UF officials unveiled plans Monday for Innovation Square, a development on 40 acres of land around SW Second Avenue that will feature 1 million square feet of retail, residential and restaurant space.
Throughout the next decade, the area around the old site of Shands at AGH will be developed into a complex that will nurture upstart businesses and provide those employees with a place to work, live and play.
“The 20th century was a time when that property gave birth to babies,” UF President Bernie Machen said. “The 21st century is going to be where that property gives birth to companies.”
The square will include the Florida Innovation Hub, a facility that is intended to support start-up companies based on UF research. That facility broke ground in June and is expected to open next fall.
Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe said the project only further bolsters the city’s position as a top per capita job creation area in the state.
“Innovation Square will be the anchor for this employment renaissance,” he said.
The project is expected to generate 3,000 jobs.
With all city commissioners in attendance, he expressed their support for the development.
“It has very strong support from the city of Gainesville.”
Brian Beach, senior vice president for administration and business ventures, emphasized the role of the entire community in the development, noting that UF is spearheading the project — not taking ownership of it.
“This is not a UF development,” Beach said. “It is not the UF campus, and these are not UF buildings. It will predominately be on the tax rolls.”
